Brief

South Florida art dealer sentenced to nearly four years for Warhol forgeries

Roberts pleaded guilty to wire‑fraud conspiracy and must return almost $2.6 million to defrauded collectors.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 17 Oct 2026 05:12:48 GMT

Leslie Howard Roberts, 63, owner of Miami Fine Art Gallery in Coconut Grove, was sentenced in federal court in Miami to three years and ten months in prison for a scheme that sold counterfeit Andy Warhol artworks, the Independent reported.

Roberts pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was ordered to repay nearly $2.6 million earned from the fraud. Prosecutors said he claimed the pieces came directly from the Andy Warhol Foundation and produced fake invoices to support the false provenance.

U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones said Roberts "exploited the trust that collectors place in art dealers and the authenticity of the works they purchase." A co‑conspirator, Carlos Rodriguez Melendez, who posed as a New York auction house employee and falsely authenticated the forgeries, had earlier pleaded guilty and received probation.

The case follows a 2023 sentencing of another South Florida dealer, Daniel Elie Bouaziz, for selling fake Warhols.

Key facts

Leslie Howard Roberts was sentenced to three years and ten months in federal prison. (independent.co.uk)
Roberts must repay nearly $2.6 million earned from selling fake Warhol artworks. (independent.co.uk)
Roberts pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. (independent.co.uk)
U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones said Roberts exploited collectors' trust. (independent.co.uk)
Co‑conspirator Carlos Rodriguez Melendez received probation after pleading guilty. (independent.co.uk)